The Official Salomon S/Lab SHIFT MNC Thread -AMA

Yeah, I know there is another thread on it...but that guy doesn't even know the name of this new binding. So since this binding was spurred by a conversation Chris Rubens and I had with a Salomon binding engineer 7 years ago, I figured I'd start the offishal thread and get the maggots some answers direct from the source. Also of note, yeah, I know I haven't posted for years...but still lurking about here and there.

So anyways, the binding. Let's start. The name is: S/LAB SHIFT MNC. Well what does that mean? S/LAB means it's coming out of the Annecy Design Center and goes through a special process of development and testing with the athletes. SHIFT, well that's because it shifts from a tech binding on the up to a normal downhill binding for the down. MNC = Multi Norm Certified = it works with a ton of boots, actually the most boots of any binder in its class.

Moving on. The idea was spurred by two main facts. Tech bindings are amazing for the way up. But are generally unsafe for the way down. Despite quite a lot of progress in tech bindings releasability and hold, ultimately they're still quite dangerous whether you're locking the toe and gambling with a spiral tib/fib fracture or gambling with unlocking the toe and having them release in inconsistent ways. So 7 years ago, we started talking about this problem. Now 20 prototypes and 7 years later, we got the binding we wanted. It's been a long process. We've seen some crazy ideas, found an idea that seemed to solve our problems and have now spent the past three years testing, tweaking and finalizing the model that we see today. Long and short though, it's a pin binding for the way up, an alpine binding for the way down...the best of both worlds.

So that being said, here's some pretty pictures and I'll do my best to answer any questions below.

a more stupid motherfuck does not exist.
Big Balls is worst asshat kind.
kind that wear bukkake from above.
with warm drown he gurgles final death, for one time not worried about his misplaced import known of african american social standing and prominent community members. for he is only drown, as is the way.

Are these meant to be a bomber soft snow touring binding or will they hold up to punishment in the resort? What's the biggest huck you've done on them? Do they feel totally solid like a sth16? Does the heel snap with a reassuring clunk?

Looking sweet. Obviously the main innovation is in the toe piece. Seems like a better solution than the Tecton, but also heavier. I think that trade-off will be a very interesting one, with no right answer.

The CF is an interesting choice, must be expensive to manufacturer with the metal inserts needed for binding retention. I wonder how bomber they will be, mostly concerned with the toe piece here.

Questions:
1. Can we get a pic with the jaws open for boot insertion?
2. What is the mount pattern going to be? It would be sweet if they matched Wardens.
3. Also curious about exactly which boots will fit.

1) how does the 10° heel riser compare to other heel risers on popular tech bindings? It seems low, but I can't actually find data to compare it to.

2) what does this binding offer over the Tecton, given that there is a not insignificant weight penalty?

I'm not sure if this has a place in my quiver due to the weight, but as an engineer I am definitely impressed with the concept and implementation. Well done.

1. The reason we went with 10° at the max height is mainly because of Greg Hill. Because once you follow a guy that can do 2 million vertical feet in a year and realize he does it on a 12° skin track, you realize that if you're on a 17° riser, you're touring too steep, are unnecessarily burning out your legs and ultimately making a shittier down for yourself. You'll never catch guys like Greg or Hoji on their high risers simply because if you need to use them, you're touring at too steep of an angle. So yeah, we tested higher but opted to get rid of the second riser because we felt like we didn't need it.

2. Safety. Safety. Safety...oh and 47mm of elastic travel versus the Tecton's 13mm. There are a shit ton of misconceptions with TUV certifications and tech bindings, the SHIFT is essentially an alpine binding with the same certifications of safety as an alpine binding but then goes up like a tech binding. It's not even really in the same category.

Are these meant to be a bomber soft snow touring binding or will they hold up to punishment in the resort? What's the biggest huck you've done on them? Do they feel totally solid like a sth16? Does the heel snap with a reassuring clunk?

That was one of the main goals. It had to have the same performance as our STH's or Wardens in any condition. I'll let you decide ultimately but for us, that hurdle was achieved.

1. The reason we went with 10° at the max height is mainly because of Greg Hill. Because once you follow a guy that can do 2 million vertical feet in a year and realize he does it on a 12° skin track, you realize that if you're on a 17° riser, you're touring too steep, are unnecessarily burning out your legs and ultimately making a shittier down for yourself. You'll never catch guys like Greg or Hoji on their high risers simply because if you need to use them, you're touring at too steep of an angle. So yeah, we tested higher but opted to get rid of the second riser because we felt like we didn't need it.

I don't disagree at all that lower angle skintracks are far more efficient, but reality is that if you tour somewhere that your skintracks sometimes use tight steep trees then you will need a higher riser at some point.

Originally Posted by Norseman

All ye punterz! Leave thine stupid heavy skis in the past, or at least in the resort category, for the age of lightweight pussy sticks is upon us! Behold! Keep up with the randocommandos on their carbon blades of shortness! Break thine tibias into spiral splinters with pintech extravagance!

1. The reason we went with 10° at the max height is mainly because of Greg Hill. Because once you follow a guy that can do 2 million vertical feet in a year and realize he does it on a 12° skin track, you realize that if you're on a 17° riser, you're touring too steep, are unnecessarily burning out your legs and ultimately making a shittier down for yourself. You'll never catch guys like Greg or Hoji on their high risers simply because if you need to use them, you're touring at too steep of an angle. So yeah, we tested higher but opted to get rid of the second riser because we felt like we didn't need it.

So true. Wish people in the wasatch could learn that steep skin tracks are stupid but that's a different subject. Elasticity seems like the biggest win with this binder. Obviously weight isn't the greatest but if it truly skis like an alpine binding, it negates the weight issue for me. Will Greg hill be touring on this binder or was he just a consultant?

So true. Wish people in the wasatch could learn that steep skin tracks are stupid but that's a different subject. Elasticity seems like the biggest win with this binder. Obviously weight isn't the greatest but if it truly skis like an alpine binding, it negates the weight issue for me. Will Greg hill be touring on this binder or was he just a consultant?

Well Greg has pretty much switched entirely to this binding. His avalanche incident and subsequent tib/fib fracture has made him quite weary of tech, for good reason, so he spent a lot of last season touring on the SHIFT. I can't say what his ratio will be in the future but he seemed to take to it more than I thought he would in all honesty

Why only 13 DIN? Just curious. If you personally don’t need a higher release value, than I can assume I wont need it either.

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Yeah, we were pushing for up to a 16 but there were design limitations that made it impossible for the 16 spring to be put in according to the developers. At the same time, I've been skiing more and more on the Warden 13 because it has a sliding AFD plate and is compatible with the MTN Lab boot which is the boot I ski noo 100% of the time and my experience with a 13 DIN binding has been nothing but positive. I also had the lead engineer for this project dispel the myth that bindings work better in the mid-range of their DIN better than at the edges. So for the SHIFT, I've been at 13 and have gained nothing but confidence on them.